Gov. Chris Christie today signed a law expanding the amount of suds a New Jersey microbrewery can produce, sell and offer for samples. It also gives brew companies the chance to increase the number of sites they open.

Long complaining they’d been held back by the liquor lobby, microbrewers in the Garden State pushed for the chance to move New Jersey from 32d in the country in craft beer production, compared to neighboring states of Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware, which rank second, seventh and 17th, respectively.

The new law, which takes effect immediately, allows brew pubs to increase their annual production from 3,000 barrels annually to 10,000. They will be able to distribute their product to liquor stores and restaurants wholesale, rather than continue to be restricted to only selling their beer in a restaurant immediately adjacent to the brewery.

No longer held to opening up to two brewpubs, a company now can open as many as 10 in New Jersey. Brewpubs will be able to offer samples of their suds not only at the brewery, as previously allowed, but also offsite, such as at fairs or charity events, as long as they have a permit from the state Alcohol Beverage Control director.

They will also be allowed to sell their beer on premises as part of a brewery tour. Customers taking the beer to go would be limited to 15.5 gallons (half a keg) each. The law also cuts the fee from $625 to $250 for production of every 1,000 barrels over their first 1,000 barrels.

“By making these changes to our brewing laws, we can help better promote New Jersey’s existing breweries and attract new brewers looking to make their mark on the world of craft beer,” said Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex), a sponsor.

Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), another sponsor, said the law is a boon for the brewing industry and the state.

“New Jersey brewpubs and microbreweries make some of the best craft beer around,” he said. “With the growing popularity of our brews, we have the potential to become a national leader in terms of production.”